Variants

An alternate spelling or form of an entry word is called a variant. Variants are shown in
boldface after the entry word and are preceded by or or also. The label or means that the variant is as common
or nearly as common as the entry word. The entry word is usually the form that comes first alphabetically:

Entry Word: egotistic
Function: adjective
Text: oregotistical

lighted
Function: adjective
Text: orlit

OK
Function: verb
Text: orokay

However, if one of the spellings or forms is used slightly more frequently, the more common one is entered first
even though it may not fall first alphabetically:

Entry Word: gizmo
Function: noun
Text: orgismo

A variant that is preceded by the label also is not as common as the entry word:

Entry Word: among
Function: preposition
Text: alsoamongst

Entry Word: facade
Function: noun
Text: alsofaçade

Entry Word: naught
Function: noun
Text: alsonought

When two variants are separated from the entry word by also but from each other by or, it means that they are
both less common than the entry word: